ENDOSCOPIC GUIDE DEVICE
Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for manipulating and/or anchoring devices and body parts during surgical procedures. In one embodiment, an anchor member is provided for anchoring a device or body part to tissue, such as an internal wall of a body cavity. The device can be, for example, an endoscopic device, an accessory channel coupled to an endoscopic device, or a support member adapted to support or manipulate an organ. The anchor member can include or form an opening through which the device can be inserted. The anchor member or device can thus be manipulated relative to the tissue to control movement of and/or provide support to the device, tools inserted through the device, and/or organs grasped by the device or tools.
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The popularity of minimally invasive surgical procedures is increasing as it allows for smaller incisions which tend to reduce recovery time and complications during surgical procedures. One option that is being widely used in a wide range of procedures is endoscopic devices, which are one of the least invasive surgical methods used today as access to a surgical site can be provided through a natural body orifice or a small incision. Endoscopes are used often in a variety of peritoneal surgeries that need access to the peritoneal cavity, including appendectomies and cholecystectomies.
During procedures that utilize endoscopic devices, there is often a need to manipulate and position the device and organs to facilitate stabilization of the devices and the organs during surgical procedures. This presents challenges as the distal end of the endoscope is often located inside the body far from the proximal end at which movement of the device is controlled. Further complications involve the consistency of the organs, which can often be large and relatively dense, making surgical procedures difficult to perform without being able to manipulate and stabilize the organs.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and devices for anchoring endoscopic devices and for manipulating body parts during surgical procedures.
SUMMARYThe present invention provides various methods and devices for anchoring endoscopic devices and/or manipulating objects such as a body organ. In one embodiment, the method can include endoscopically implanting an anchor member in an internal wall of a body cavity such that the anchor member defines an opening, and inserting a device through the opening in the anchor member to anchor a distal portion of the device to the wall of the body cavity. The device can be, for example, an endoscope or an accessory channel slidably coupled to an endoscope. The method can further include engaging a body organ with a distal end of the device, and sliding the device relative to the anchor member to reposition the body organ.
In one embodiment, the anchor member can be inserted through an endoscope to endoscopically implant the anchor member, and the anchor member can be manipulated to engage the internal wall of the body cavity. A grasping device can be disposed through the endoscope and used to manipulate the anchor member. In one exemplary embodiment, the anchor member includes a first terminal end that is implanted at a first anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity, and a second terminal end that is implanted at a second anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity. The anchor member can extend between the first and second anchor sites such that the opening is formed between the anchor member and the internal wall of the body cavity.
The anchor member can have a variety of other configurations. For example, the anchor member can include a hoop defining the opening and having first and second tissue-penetrating legs extending therefrom for engaging the wall of the body cavity. In another embodiment, the anchor member can include an elongate rod having first and second tissue-penetrating legs located on opposed terminal ends thereof for engaging the wall of the body cavity. In yet another embodiment, the anchor member can include a suture having first and second tissue-engaging members coupled to opposed terminal ends thereof for engaging the internal wall of the body cavity. The opening is formed between the suture and the internal wall of the body cavity when the first and second tissue-engaging members are implanted in the internal wall of the body cavity. The first and second tissue-engaging members can be passed through the internal wall of the body cavity to the external surface of the body, and the first and second tissue-engaging members can be manipulated to pull the device against the internal wall of the body cavity.
The present invention also provides methods for manipulating a body part during a surgical procedure. In one embodiment, the method can include implanting an anchor member in an internal wall of a body cavity, inserting a support member through an endoscope, and coupling a distal portion of the support member to the anchor member. The method further includes grasping a body part with a distal end of the support member, and sliding the support member relative to the anchor member to manipulate the body part by, for example, applying tension to a proximal end of the support member.
The anchor member can be implanted in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the anchor member can be implanted by inserting the anchor member through an endoscope, and implanting at least one tissue-engaging member formed on the anchor member in the internal wall of the body cavity. In order to implant the at least one tissue-engaging member, a first tissue-engaging member formed on a first terminal end of the anchor member can be implanted at a first anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity, and a second tissue-engaging member formed on a second terminal end of the anchor member can be implanted at a second anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity such that the anchor member extends between the first and second anchor sites. An opening is formed between the anchor member and the internal wall of the body cavity. A distal portion of the support member can be coupled to the anchor member by inserting the support member through the opening. In another embodiment, the anchor member can be implanted by inserting the anchor member through an external surface of the body to position a distal portion of the anchor member within the body cavity. The anchor member can include a cannula that is inserted through the external surface of the body, and a loop that extends from the cannula and is positioned within the body cavity. A distal portion of the support member can be coupled to the anchor member by inserting the support member through the loop.
Methods are also provided for supporting an endoscopic device. In one embodiment, the method can include implanting an anchor member in an internal wall of the body cavity, inserting an endoscope through a body lumen to position a distal portion of the endoscope adjacent to the anchor member, and coupling an accessory channel removably coupled to the endoscope to the anchor member such that the accessory channel is anchored to the body cavity and supported related to the endoscope. In one exemplary embodiment, the method can further include applying tension to the anchor member to maintain the accessory channel in a fixed position relative to the body cavity, and inserting a device through the accessory channel such that a distal end of the device extends distally from a distal end of the accessory channel.
The anchor member can have a variety of configurations, and can include, for example, a hoop formed thereon. Coupling the accessory channel to the anchor member can include inserting the accessory channel through the hoop. In another embodiment, the anchor member can include opposed terminal ends that are anchored to the body cavity such that an opening extends between the anchor member and the body cavity. Coupling the accessory channel to the anchor member can include inserting the accessory channel through the opening.
The present invention further provides methods for supporting an organ during a surgical procedure. The method can include inserting an elastic member through an endoscope, and implanting a first anchoring element formed on a first end of the elastic member in a body part. Tension can be applied to a second end of the elastic member to reposition the body part, and a second anchoring element formed on the second end of the elastic member can be implanted in tissue located a distance away from the body part to maintain the body part in a substantially fixed position.
The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for manipulating and/or anchoring devices and body parts during surgical procedures. In general, an anchor member is provided for anchoring a device or body part to tissue, such as an internal wall of a body cavity. The device can be, for example, an endoscopic device, an accessory channel coupled to an endoscopic device, or a support member adapted to support or manipulate an organ. The anchor member can include or form an opening through which the device can be inserted. The anchor member or device can thus be manipulated relative to the tissue to control movement of and/or provide support to the device, tools inserted through the device, and/or organs grasped by the device or tools.
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the anchor members shown in
The present invention also provides methods for endoscopically implanting an anchor member in an internal wall of a body cavity. Certain anchor members described above are particularly suited for endoscopic implantation, including the anchor members 10, 20, 30 shown in
The present invention also provides methods for manipulating an organ during a surgical procedure. In one exemplary embodiment, shown in
Methods are also provided for anchoring a device, such as an endoscope or an accessory channel coupled to an endoscope, to tissue.
In another embodiment, an accessory channel 108 on an endoscope 106 can be anchored to tissue, as shown in
A person skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the methods described above can be achieved using various anchoring devices.
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate further features and advantages of the invention based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Claims
1. A method of anchoring an endoscopic device, comprising:
- endoscopically implanting an anchor member in an internal wall of a body cavity such that the anchor member defines an opening; and
- inserting a device through the opening in the anchor member to anchor a distal portion of the device to the wall of the body cavity.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an endoscope.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an accessory channel slidably coupled to an endoscope.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising engaging a body organ with a distal end of the device, and sliding the device relative to the anchor member to reposition the body organ.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein endoscopically implanting the anchor member comprises inserting the anchor member through an endoscope, and manipulating the anchor member to engage the internal wall of the body cavity.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein a grasping device disposed through the endoscope is used to manipulate the anchor member.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the anchor member includes a first terminal end that is implanted at a first anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity, and a second terminal end that is implanted at a second anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity such that the anchor member extends between the first and second anchor sites and the opening is formed between the anchor member and the internal wall of the body cavity.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor member comprises a hoop defining the opening and having first and second tissue-penetrating legs extending therefrom for engaging the wall of the body cavity.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor member comprises an elongate rod having first and second tissue-penetrating legs located on opposed terminal ends thereof for engaging the wall of the body cavity.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor member comprises a suture having first and second tissue-engaging members coupled to opposed terminal ends thereof for engaging the internal wall of the body cavity.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the opening is formed between the suture and the internal wall of the body cavity when the first and second tissue-engaging members are implanted in the internal wall of the body cavity.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second tissue-engaging members are passed through the internal wall of the body cavity to the external surface of the body, the method further comprising manipulating the first and second tissue-engaging members to pull the device against the internal wall of the body cavity.
13. A method of manipulating a body part during a surgical procedure, comprising:
- implanting an anchor member in an internal wall of a body cavity;
- inserting a support member through an endoscope;
- coupling a distal portion of the support member to the anchor member;
- grasping a body part with a distal end of the support member; and
- sliding the support member relative to the anchor member to manipulate the body part.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein sliding the support member comprises applying tension to a proximal end of the support member.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein implanting the anchor member comprises inserting the anchor member through an endoscope, and implanting at least one tissue-engaging member formed on the anchor member in the internal wall of the body cavity.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein implanting the at least one tissue-engaging member comprises implanting a first tissue-engaging member formed on a first terminal end of the anchor member at a first anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity, and implanting a second tissue-engaging member formed on a second terminal end of the anchor member at a second anchor site on the internal wall of the body cavity such that the anchor member extends between the first and second anchor sites.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein an opening is formed between the anchor member and the internal wall of the body cavity, and coupling a distal portion of the support member to the anchor member comprises inserting the support member through the opening.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein implanting the anchor member comprises inserting the anchor member through an external surface of the body to position a distal portion of the anchor member within the body cavity.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the anchor member includes a cannula that is inserted through the external surface of the body, and a loop that extends from the cannula and is positioned within the body cavity.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein coupling a distal portion of the support member to the anchor member comprises inserting the support member through the loop.
21. A method for supporting an endoscopic device, comprising:
- implanting an anchor member in an internal wall of the body cavity;
- inserting an endoscope through a body lumen to position a distal portion of the endoscope adjacent to the anchor member; and
- coupling an accessory channel removably coupled to the endoscope to the anchor member such that the accessory channel is anchored to the body cavity and supported related to the endoscope.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the anchor member includes a hoop formed thereon and coupling the accessory channel to the anchor member comprises inserting the accessory channel through the hoop.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the anchor member includes opposed terminal ends that are anchored to the body cavity such that an opening extends between the anchor member and the body cavity, and coupling the accessory channel to the anchor member comprises inserting the accessory channel through the opening.
24. The method of claim 21, further comprising applying tension to the anchor member to maintain the accessory channel in a fixed position relative to the body cavity.
25. The method of claim 21, further comprising inserting a device through the accessory channel such that a distal end of the device extends distally from a distal end of the accessory channel.
26. A method for supporting an organ during a surgical procedure, comprising:
- inserting an elastic member through an endoscope;
- implanting a first anchoring element formed on a first end of the elastic member in a body part;
- applying tension to a second end of the elastic member to reposition the body part; and
- implanting a second anchoring element formed on the second end of the elastic member in tissue located a distance away from the body part to maintain the body part in a substantially fixed position.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2008
Patent Grant number: 7967741
Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH)
Inventors: Gregory J. Bakos (Mason, OH), Christie M. Cunningham (Cincinnati, OH), David Stefanchik (Morrow, OH), James W. Voegele (Cincinnati, OH), Michael J. Stokes (Cincinnati, OH), Christopher J. Hess (Cincinnati, OH), James T. Spivey (Cincinnati, OH), Gary L. Long (Cincinnati, OH), Kurt R. Bally (Lebanon, OH), Ragae M. Ghabrial (Cincinnati, OH), Rudolph H. Nobis (Mason, OH)
Application Number: 11/742,948
International Classification: A61B 1/00 (20060101);